Queen Heonjeong

Queen Heonjeong of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan (Korean: 헌정왕후 황보씨; Hanja: 獻貞王后 皇甫氏; c. 960/5–993^[2]) or formally called as Grand Queen Mother Hyosuk (Korean: 효숙왕태후; Hanja: 孝肅王太后) during her son's reign, was a Korean Royal family member as the third daughter (formally second and youngest) of Daejong of Goryeo and Queen Seonui, also become a Korean Queen Consort^[3] as the 4th wife and queen consort of King Gyeongjong of Goryeo. She was the biological mother of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo, who was her son with Anjong of Goryeo.^[4] Queen Heonjeong became the fourth reigned Goryeo Queen Consort who followed her maternal clan, that later commonly used to other goryeo queens, followed her older sister, Queen Heonae.

Aftermath with Anjong of Goryeo[]

Not much records left about the Queen's early life beside that, since child, she and her siblings were all raised by their paternal grandmother, Queen Sinjeong as their parents were died early.^[5] While King Gyeongjong died early, she became a widowed on her mid-twenties and out the palace, lived in her own mansion in Gaegyeong which close with her half uncle, Wang Uk's house in southern Wangnyun Temple (왕륜사, 王輪寺), Songak Mountain, so they were a neighborhood.^[6]

Someday, it was said that she had a dream that, in her dream, she climbed a hill and urinated, overflowing the country and turning into a sea of silver. She then visited a shaman to interpret her dream and the shaman predicted that if she gave birth to a son, her son would become the King of the Nation and she'll occupy the country. Meanwhile, the Queen said: "I am already a widow, how can I have a son?." and rebuked that shaman.^[7]

Since the widowed queen wasn't allowed to approach other men by law, so she often visited her uncle as just him on his 50s was her only conversation partner^[6] and as they spend times together, they then became close each other and after 10 years passed, the Queen thought that her heart, which had moved little by little, just relayed on Wang Wook.^[6] On the ambitious night in 991, after prayed for the former King Gyeongjong's happiness in Wangnyun Temple, both Wang Uk and the Queen confirmed each other's feelings and the two slowly began to embrace their love affair. As a result, they had a son named Wang Sun.^[8]

At this time, peoples around them were all quiet and the courts was unaware of this. Knowing her deed, The Queen who felt her fetus was anxious and her body must just served the former King and couldn't even have a relationship with another man and she was said to wanted to die as she even had a child with her own uncle.^[6] Seeing this, her older sister, Queen Mother Heonae was openly communicated her affection with , but the weak-hearted Heonjeong trembled with Heonae's anxiety and she then cried while hugged Wang Uk.^[6] In her uncle's hugged, she said:

"How do i do this?, i'd rather die. It's all my fault. I should have kept only your heart. What do I do now that I have a child?, don't worry too much and take good care of yourself, I'll cover all your mistakes. I'm going to hurt my body like this."^[9][6]

In 992, while she stayed in his house, his slave piled up firewood in the yard and set it on fire. As soon as the flames started to rise, an official ran to put the fire out, Seongjong rushed to rescue them and hurriedly came with asked for Uk's affairs and condolences.^[6] During this time, it was said that she ashamed and despised, then cried a lot in shame and went back to her own mansion, but as soon as she reached the gate, there was a fetal movement. The Queen was said to trembling with anxiety until the day she gave birth to her child in her late-twenties and she turned her back on her world, leaving her uncle. Seongjong, who wanted to comforted his younger sister, said:

"Your uncle has disturbed the morals of the Royal Family. Don't think too badly about sending him to Sasu-hyeon to correct the country's discipline."^[10][6]

Wang Uk, who had no choice, cried as he embraced his lover (niece) who was getting colder and she then died during her childbirth.^[6]

Not long after this, after the country know that the widowed Queen got pregnant, Wang Uk was exiled to Sasu-hyeon (nowadays is Sacheon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea) due to his affair with the widowed queen. As Wang Sun still young at this time, so he then bought to the palace by his uncle, King Seongjong and gave Sun a nanny to take care of him.^[5] Wang Sun's maternal aunt, Heonae, who now became her son, Mokjong of Goryeo's regent, threatened Sun's life from time to time after his mother's death and had a tumultuous time until the day he ascended the throne.

Meanwhile, in 1009, Mokjong was deposed and his mother was expelled due to Gang Jo's rebellion in Ganghwa Island and Wang Sun then ascended to the throne as a result from Ganghwa's insistence. Heonjeong then honoured as a Queen Mother and received her Posthumous name, along with Wang Uk, also buried in Wolleung Tomb (원릉, 元陵).^[5]

Family[]

• Father: Daejong of Goryeo (? – November 969) (고려 대종)^[11]
  • Grandfather: Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943) (고려 태조)
  • Grandmother: Queen Sinjeong (900 – 19 August 983) (신정왕후)
• Mother: Queen Seonui (선의왕후)
  • Grandfather: Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943) (고려 태조)
  • Grandmother: Queen Jeongdeok (정덕왕후)
    • Brother: Seongjong of Goryeo (15 January 961 – 29 November 997) (고려 성종)
    • Sister: Queen Heonae (964 – 20 January 1029) (헌애왕후 황보씨)
• Husband:
  • 1st: Gyeongjong of Goryeo (9 November 955 – 13 August 981) (고려 경종)^[12]
  • 2nd: Anjong of Goryeo (? – 7 July 996) (고려 안종)
    • Son: Hyeonjong of Goryeo (1 August 992 – 17 June 1031) (고려 현종)
      • Daughter-in-law: Queen Wonjeong (? – 1018) (원정왕후)
      • Daughter-in-law: Queen Wonhwa (원화왕후)
      • Daughter-in-law: Queen Wonseong (? – 22 July 1028) (원성왕후)
      • Daughter-in-law: Queen Wonhye (? – 30 June 1022) (원혜왕후)
      • Daughter-in-law: Queen Wonyong (원용왕후)
      • Daughter-in-law: Queen Wonmok (? – 12 May 1057) (원목왕후)
      • Daughter-in-law: Queen Wonpyeong (? – October 1028) (원평왕후)

Posthumous name[]

• In May 1017 (8th year reign of King Hyeonjong), name Hye-sun (혜순, 惠順) was added.
• In June 1021 (12nd year reign of King Hyeonjong), name In-hye (인혜, 仁惠) was added.
• In April 1027 (18th year reign of King Hyeonjong), name Seon-yong (선용, 宣容) was added.
• In October 1253 (40th year reign of King Gojong), name Myeong-gan (명간, 明簡) was added to her Posthumous name too.

^[13][5]

In popular culture[]

• Portrayed by Park Eun-bin and Shin Ae in the 2009 KBS2 TV series Empress Cheonchu.
• Portrayed by Kim Do-hye in the 2016 SBS TV series Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

References[]

External links[]

• http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/korea_heads.htm
• Queen Heonjung (in Korean)
• 태몽으로 사랑을 얻고 왕자를 낳은 헌정왕후^{[permanent dead link]} (in Korean)
• 안종 욱과 헌정왕후의 슬픈 사랑 남해타임스 (in Korean)
• 헌애·헌정 자매의 싸움… 고려 王씨 왕조가 김씨 왕조가 될 뻔 조선일보 2009.09.19 (in Korean)
• Queen Heonjeong on Encykorea (in Korean).